Three of this septet – Tetteh, Turton and Garcia – were among the Venus Warriors that Courtney Pine introduced at a fine, landmark gig at Streatham's Hideaway club in 2014. That coming-out party for the Tomorrow's Warriors Female Collective was just a prelude to Nérija's debut E P, a joyously melodic, swaggering promenade through spiritual jazz and African rhythms. Guitarist Shirley Tetteh has already made a mark as a distinct, agile stylist, but when brass fanfares flower from her itchy funk grooves, highlife and straight jazz melodies, the combination lifts the soul. Bassist Inga Eichler's ‘Valleys’ finds a sweet spot between township and ska brass which defies the dead not to dance – a recent support spot with Jazz Jamaica sounds like a great hip-swinging, hedonists' bill. Garcia's ‘For You’ is a languid ballad with epic flourishes, Turton's ‘The Fisherman’ JB's funk with a stately coda. Freedom and pleasure are communicated with potent discipline in this auspicious opening shot.